Laundry apparatus



April 19, 1966 J. A. SCHWING 3,246,494

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 outflow of water from the tub and into the drain.

ling operation.

United States Patent 3,246,494 LAUNDRY APPARATUS Joseph A. Schwing,'Penndel,Pa-, assignor to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pin, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 354,637 4 Claims. (Cl. 68-23) both assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The washing machine embraced by the aforementioned disclosures has a perforate clothes basket disposed within an imperforate tub, each having an upwardly presented opening. A wobble-plate agitator is mounted substantially concentrically within the basket. Drive means selectively drives either the agitator, to wash clothes in the basket, or drivesthe agitator .and the :basket as a unit in performance of a centrifuging operation to spin-dry the clothes. The drive means comprises .a reversible motor that is driven in one direction to operate the agitator alone, and is driven in the opposite direction to spin the basket and agitator as a unit. As the water is cent-rifuged from the spinning basket intothe tub, apump continuously driven'by the motor is operable to draw the water through a drain hose communicating with a sump portion of the tub, and to discharge the water into a conventional disposal drain. When the motor is driven in the other direction, to operate the-agitator alone in performance of the clothes washing phase of operation, the pump works against the head of water in the tub and its drain hose, an arrangement which has frequently been used to prevent This reverse pumping effect has, however, been found undesirable in that it tends to create flow of wash fluid in the basket and tub which is counter to the agitator-induced flow, thereby causing flotati-on of the clothes in the wash water to an extent that it detracts from the effectiveness of the agitator in performance-of its wash- Also, driving the pump when it is not needed places an unnecessary load on the motor, and undesirably adds to the temperature of the motor windings as a laundering cycle progresses.

It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide pump apparatus that retains the essential simplicity of the former arrangements while eliminating flow of fluid in the basket of a washing machine, counter to the agitatorinduced flow, and its attendant disadvantages.

It is a specific objective of the invention to provide an automatically operable drivecoupling, between the drive motor and drain pump of a washing machine, that affords operation of the pump during the centrifugingphase, but not during the clothes agitation phase of a laundering cycle.

It is a further objective of the invention to minimize loading of the drive motor of a washing machine, thereby making .it possible to use motors of lower power.

In achievement of the foregoing as well as other objects and advantages, the invention oontemplates that the drain pump be driven with the reversible drive motor of a vertical axis Washing machine through automatic clutch 3,246,494 Patented Apr. 19, I966 motor to provide during the agitationphase a recirculation of the wash fluid through suitable filter means operable to remove lint and other foreign material from the fluid. In such an arrangement, loading of the drive motoris reduced during agitator drive by decoupling the drain pump while driving the smaller recirculation pump. Driving the 'two pumps, simultaneously, during the centrifuging phase is less detrimental to the motor, inasmuch as the wash fluid is rapidly removed from the tub during the initial portions of the centrifuging phase, and very little fluid remains to cause undue loading of the motor, during the later and major portions of the centrifuging.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description, taken in light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective showing of a vertical axis washing machine embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the machine, on a larger scale, with parts broken away to illustrate the motor and the drive apparatus; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 2, on a somewhat larger scale, and illustrating structural details of the apparatus of the invention.

With more particular reference to 'FIGU-RES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the invention preferably is embodied in a washing machine including a cabinet 10, a control panel 11, and an access opening 12 in the upper horizontal wall portion 13 of the cabinet. A door 14 is hingedly mounted over access opening 12, in accordance with usual practice, to permit loading and unloading of the upwardly presented rotatable basket 15 which is nested Within an imperforate non-rotatable tub 16. Basket 15 is mounted upon hub means (not shown) which is suitably journalled within bearing means 20 provided in the bottom of stationary tub 16. Bearing means 20 and tube 16 are supported upon a non-rotatable central tubular column 22 which has at its lower end a downwardly flaring skirt portion 23 disposed in resilient supporting engagement with the bottom or base portion 24 of the cabinet.

A wobble-plate agitator 25 is disposed within basket 15 and is driven by a shaft 26 having a lower end portion extending below base member 24, and to which shaft portion a pulley 27 is affixed. Means for driving pulley 27 conveniently comprises selectively reversible motor 30 mounted upon a bracket 37 affixed to skirt 23 of the column 2.2. The lower end of motor shaft 31 includes a pulley 32 drivingly connected with pulley, 27 by a belt 33. The releasable drive coupling between agitator shaft 26 and basket 15, as well as the coupling between shaft 26 and agitator '25, need not be described, inasmuch as these elements are described in the referenced disclosures and are not required for an understanding of the present invention. Motor 30 is of the reversible type, and when rotated in one direction conditions brake means (not shown) associated with the drive coupling, preventing basket 15 from rotating but causing agitator shaft 26 to operate agitator 25. When motor 30 is rotated in the other direction, the brake means is actuated to release basket 15 and permit rotation of agitator 25 and basket 15 as a unit to centrifuge water from clothes within the basket.

A perforate, wash fluid filter pan 34 is sup-ported concentrioally upon the center post or wash aid dispenser 35 disposed above agitator 25, and its function will be referred to later in this disclosure.

With more particular reference to FIGURES 2 and 3, a wash fluid drain pump 36 is mounted by a bracket 38 atop motor 30 for drive by motor shaft 3 1. The inlet port of the pump is disposed in' fluid flow communication with a flexible hose '40 (FIGURE 2) attached to a .drain sump portion 41 of tub 16. Pump 36 is of the i direction and will be rendered inoperable when motor 30 is rotated in the other direction. This advantageous concept is implemented in the preferred illustrated embodiment through coupling of motor shaft 31 to drain pump 36 by a one-way, wrapped spring clutch means 43, so constructed and arranged as to operate impeller 47 of pump 36, to drain the tube 16, solely when motor 30 is rotating in the direction to centrifuge or spin basket 15. When motor 36 is rotated in the opposite direction, to operate the agitator alone, clutch means 43 is so constructed and arranged as to decouple the impeller of pump 36 to render it inoperative.

-In further accordance with the invention, a second,

smaller pump 50 is disposed atop drain pump 36 and includes an inlet port connected to line '51 (FIGURE 2) disposed in fluid flow communication with the side of tub 16, and a discharge port connected with a line 52 that leads to a nozzle 53 directed toward the perforate :tfilter pan 34. The construction and arrangement of this associated therewith in more detail, and with specific reference to FIGURE 3, a sleeve 4-4 is concentric with shaft portion 39 and includes bushings 45 and 46 pressfitted into the sleeve and rotatable with the sleeve relative to shaft portion 39. Impeller 47 of drain pump 36 is keyed for rotation with sleeve 44 by a set screw S, and conventional shaft seal means 63 is provided to prevent outflow of fluid from pump 36 along the shaft sleeve 44.

In the event leakage should occur, a slinger disk 48 carried by sleeve 44 is so shaped and positioned that it will centrifuge water from the shaft to prevent flow into clutch means 43.

With reference to the clutch means 43 itself, a drive hub 55 of the clutch is keyed to motor shaft 31. A second hub 56 of the clutch is disposed above and concentrio with hub 55, and is aflixed to the lower end of sleeve 44. From an inspection of FIGURE 3 it is seen that impeller 47, sleeve 44, slinger 48, bushings 45 and 46, and hub 56 are rotatably supported upon the outer race of bearing 57, the inner race of which is keyed to the larger diameter, main portion of motor shaft 3-1. A closely wound helical spring 58 is aflixed at 58a to hub 55 and is coiled about adjacent peripheral surface portions of hubs 55 and 56 as shown. Retainer cup 59 for grease 60 encircles the spring to provide lubrication for the clutch.

A pan 61 is disposed atop motor 30 to shield it from wash fluid, and a slinger 62. is provided on shaft 3-1 to centrifuge wash fluid flowing down the shaft, and prevent its flow into the motor shaft bearings (not shown).

Considering now operation of the disclosed inventive apparatus, when motor shaft 31 is driven in a clockwise direction (as viewed from above) to drive agitator 25 alone, rotation of clutch drive hub 55 automatically causes helical spring 58 to unwind. The unwound spring 58 will slip on hub 56, and larger impeller 47 will not be rotated. However, due to the direct coupling of smaller impeller 54 to motor shaft extension 39, it will be driven to withdraw fluid from tub 16 through hose 51 for discharge through hose 52, and subsequent flow out of nozzle 53 into filter pan 34, thence back onto the tube through perforations in the pan. In'view of the relatively low fluid flow rate of pump 50, and the absence of flow due to inactive pump 36, the sole turbulence within the wash fluid will be that created by the agitator 25. Moreover, loading of the motor will be held to a minimum, and its windings advantageously will be maintained at desired lower temperatures. This is especially advantageous in minimizing the ultimate motor temperature, it being recognized that the motor temperature tends to increase as a laundering cycle progresses. During inoperab-ility of pump 36, outflow of fluid from tub 16 is prevented by anti-siphoning loop 49 formed in drain hose 42 and rising above the normal fluid fill level of tub 16.

Considering operation of the inventive apparatus fur ther, when motor shaft 31 is driven in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed from above) in performance of the the basket spin phase, helical spring 58 will tighten frictionally to engage hub 56, and impeller 47 of drain pump 36 will be driven to withdraw wash fluid from the tub and discharge the same through hose 42. Due to the absence of fluid in the region of nozzle 53, the smaller pump 59 will move no fluid, thereby also detracting from the motor loading. As the basket continues to spin, all fluid will be removed from the tub, and impellers of both pumps 36 and 50 will turn freely in the absence of fluid.

It will be appreciated that the invention not only affords improved economy of operation and improved washing action of a vertical axis washing machine, but also minimizes initial cost by permitting use of less powerful motors than have been required heretofore.

I claim:

1. In laundry apparatus: a container for wash fluid; a rotatable basket within said container for holding fabrics to be Washed; agitator means within said basket; means rotatable in one direction for driving said agitator means While maintaining said basket stationary, said means for driving further being selectively rotatable in a direction opposite to the first direction, for rotating said basket to centrifuge Water from the fabrics in said basket following a period of operation of said agitator means, first pump means operable to withdraw wash fluid from said container as the fluid is centrifuged from the fabrics in said basket; a hollow shaft for driving said first pump means; second pump means including a rotary impeller; a shaft continuously driven by said means for driving and operable to drive said impeller of said second pump means, said shaft extending coaxially through said hollow shaft; a wash fluid filter circuit activated my said second pump means; and means for selectively coupling said first pump means with said means for driving in response to rotation of the latter in the recited opposite direction, comprising a unidirectional clutch drivingly interposed between said shaft and said hollow shaft.

2. In laundry apparatus: a container for wash fluid; a rotatable basket within said container for holding fabrics to be washed; agitator means within said basket; means rotatable in one direction for driving said agitator means while maintaining said basket stationary, said means for driving further being selectively rotatable in a direction opposite to the first direction, for rotating said basket to centrifuge water from the fabrics in said basket following a period of operation of said agitator means; first pump means of the rotary impeller type operable to withdraw wash fluid from said'container as the fluid is centrifuged from the fabrics in said basket; a first shaft for driving said first pump means; second pump means including a rotary impeller; a second shaft continuously driven by said means for driving and operable to drive said rotary impeller of said second pump means; wash fluid filter means activated by said second pump means; and means for selectively coupling said first pump means with said means for driving in response to rotation of the latter in the recited opposite direction, comprising a unidirectional clutch interposed between said first and said second shafts.

3. In laundry apparatus: a tub for holding wash fluid; a rotatable basket disposed Within said tub; agitator means for fabrics and fluid within said basket; reversible drive means for operating said agitator means alone when rotated in one direction, and, when driven in the other direction, for rotating said basket to centrifuge fluid from fabrics within said basket into said tub; means including a first pump having a rotatable impeller operable to remove fluid from said tub when said basket is rotated; a first shaft for driving said impeller of said first pump; a second pump having a rotatable impeller; a second shaft continuously driven my said drive means and operable to drive said impeller of said second pump; a fluid filter circuit activated by said second pump; and means for selectively coupling the impeller of said first pump with said drive means in response to rotation of the latter in the recited other direction, com-prising a unidirectional clutch drivingly interposed between said first and said second shafts.

4. In laundry apparatus: a container for wash fluid; a rotatable basket within said container for holding fabrics to be washed; agitator means within said basket; reversi ble drive means for operating said agitator means when rotated in one direction, and for rotating said basket to centrifuge fluid from fabrics within said basket and into said container when driven in the other direction; a first pump operable to remove fluid from said container when said basket is rotated; a first shaft for driving said first pump; a second pump; a second shaft continuously driven by said drive means and operable to drive said second pump; a wash fluid filter circuit activated by said second pump; and means defining a unidirectional clutch drivingly interposed beween said first and said second shafts, and comprising means for selectively coupling said first pump with said drive means in response to rotation of the latter in the recited ther direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,494,436 1/ 1950 Gerhardt 68-23 2,527,238 10/1950 Woodson 6823 X 2,983,130 5/196 1 Pinder 68-208 X 3,144,759 8/1964 Bochan 68208 X FOREIGN PATENTS 973,841 6/ 1960 Germany.

WALT'ER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner,

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Examiner. 

4. IN LAUNDARY APPARATUS: A CONTAINER FOR WASH FLUID; A ROTATABLE BASKET WITHIN SAID CONTAINER FOR HOLDING FABRICS TO BE WASHED; AGITATOR MEANS WITHIN SAID BASKET; REVERSIBLE DRIVE MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID AGITATOR MEANS WHEN ROTATED IN ONE DIRECTION, AND FOR ROTATING SAID BASKET TO CENTRIFUGE FLUID FROM FABRICS WITHIN SAID BASKET AND INTO SAID CONTAINER WHEN DRIVEN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION; A FIRST PUMP OPERABLE TO REMOVE FLUID FROM SAID CONTAINER WHEN SAID BASKET IS ROTATED; A FIRST SHAFT FOR DRIVING SAID FIRST PUMP; A SECOND PUMP; A SECOND SHAFT CONTINUOUSLY DRIVEN BY SAID DRIVE MEANS AND OPERABLE TO DRIVE SAID SECOND PUMP; A WASH FLUID FILTER CIRCUIT ACTIVATED BY SAID SECOND PUMP; AND MEANS DEFINING A UNIDIRECTIONAL CLUTCH DRIVINGLY INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND SHAFTS, AND COMPRISING MEANS FOR SELEC- 